The Ten Directives of Imam Ghazali From the Gathered works of Imam Ghazali (may Allah show him

mercy) In the name of Allah, most merciful, most generous All praise is for Allah, the giver of success, who gathered the hearts of the lo vers, the ability to practice the prophetic way and the rulings of the Quran. Th e Opener who opens the insight of their eyesight, so they see the place of subli me in the battle of the veiled. The Inspirer who inspired bright proof through o verwhelming evidence then affected it soundly. Called them with a tongue to the order of love, from the garden of affection, how can the lover sleep when he see s the beloved ones...?! **** To begin: may Allah blow on us a breeze of closeness; quench our and your thirst from beakers of his love. This is an explanation of our way and a proof for peo ples realization. Built upon ten directives that awaken those in slumber so they can establish these directives. The First Directive Is a truthful intention that does not waver because he said (upon him peace and blessings), The recompense for the intender is their intention. (Muslim) intention means the determination of the heart. (To do or not do something). The definition of intention is the determination of the heart and truthfulness i s completing an action or leaving an action for the Lord. In reality is it conti nuing on this natural effectiveness because one of the signs of an unchanged det ermination is that his resolve towards the goal is unswerving; remaining on his determination. As the action is for the Real (Allah) and this is the necessary t ruth so do not leave that which you have intended for the Creator. The Second Directive To perform an action for Allah without a co-sharer or partner because he said (u pon him peace and blessings), Worship Allah as if you see him and you cannot then as if he sees you. (Muslim) A sign (of this) is that you are not pleased with anything but the Real (Allah) and you see nothing other than him. You avoid creation as the Chosen Prophet (pe ace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, Cursed is the slave of the gold coi n. He should leave, for the sake of Allah (the All-mighty), all his aspirations; be cause he said (upon him peace and blessings), Form the perfections of ones Islam; is to leave that which does not concern him. (At-Tirmidhi) It is passions so avoid if they afflict you because of his speech (peace and ble ssings of Allah be upon him), Leave that which gives you doubt for that which doe s not. (At-Tirmidhi 2520 and An-Nisa i 5711) So if these principles are sound then the branches will give fruits of closeness . So be like this in the world and in meaning in the afterlife; upon the extent of your aspiration and steadfastness upon action. Leave error like in the famous prophetic narration, Be in the world as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer. (Buk hari) and Consider yourselves inhabitants of the graves. (ibid) A sign of satisfaction and sufficiency with hot, cold and hunger is his speech, S ufficient for the son of Adam are some morsels which keep his back straight. (AtTirmidhi 2380 and Imam Ahmed 17186)

So do not incline to wheat, barley or to the pit of the date stone. Be satiated with pure things and do not desire the impermissible. Do not lower yourself to m inor desires. A sign of a stranger is having less and using little and the oppos ite is being agreeable to much. Not questioning as he is under the shelter of th e stranger. The sign of a traveller is his fast response and satisfaction with w hat came to him of comfort. And the sign of the dead is altruism to his religion as well as questioning, most of the time. Third Directive Accepting the Real (Allah) totally and in conformity. Oppose yourself with patie nce upon separation, hardship; abandonment of whims, distancing (oneself from) p assions, places and disagreements. Whoever goes back to him leaves the veil and enters the disclosure. Then he sleeps late; mingles isolation; is satisfied with hunger; his honour is low; his speech is silence and abundance is little. Fourth directive Action is by fellowship and not by innovating lest he becomes a follower of his passions. Do not be proud of your opinion as there is no success in he who takes himself as a protector because he (upon him peace and blessings) said, It is upo n you to hear and obey, even to an Ethiopian slave. (At-Tirmidhi) Fifth directive High aspirations delay your corruption. As they say, Do not leave the action of t oday for tomorrow. As some actions are part of others and only those who are sati sfied with little are prevented from much. The correct group to follow is the Su nni s not the Shia, not the Mutazilites and not the innovators because of his sp eech (upon him peace and blessings), O my beloveds, be with the majority. They aske d, O Messenger of Allah, who are the majority? He replied, What I and my companions are on. Sixth directive Weakness and lowness. Do not be lazy in the acts of obedience and refraining fro m striving. Rather be weak in all actions except those for the Real, the Generou s. See the Creator through generous and respectful eyes; as some it is means to others; in reverence to the owner of the glory and honour. As the way of Allah ( mighty and majestic) is if he desires something; it does not exceed by negating the means. When the Glorious desires to show you his greatness, more than others , the auspices of his order become clear. If you know that everything is under t he control of Allah (mighty and majestic) and returns to him; then be grateful f or it as it reached you from Him. So make your weakness in a corner and your hab itation to him is with apology and do not conceive your ability as there is cont ention in ability. Seventh Directive Fear and hope mean lack of tranquillity in the Majesty of excellence except acco rding to the evident. So be good by showing generosity and excellence. Eighth directive Constant worship, this is either the right of the Real or the right of the serva nt. As the one without a constant action does not have a constant support. Be co nstant without suffering boredom; be not he who is absent in his actions and wor ds. As the ego is excessive with this in public and in secret. Take into account

the rights of the servant as good or occurs from them. He loves or abhors for t hem what he loves or abhors for himself of good or evil. Know that Allah (the ex alted) is not satisfied if he likes that which Allah does not. Ninth directive Is constant vigilance of himself and he is not absent from Allah (mighty and Maj estic) for a blinking of an eye. Whoever is constant upon being vigilant, in his heart, for Allah (mighty and majestic) negates everything other than Allah, fin ds Allah and perfection. Then knowledge of certainty will be arrived at by his b eauty. He will not see movement, stillness, eye movement or calmness without the power of the All-Mighty being free from it. So increase your vigilance for it w ill be raised to the level of certain knowledge then to annihilation after that and that is the reality of certainty. So say, I do not see anything except I see Allah (mighty and majestic) through it. He is the Everlasting that established e verything. That is something he established by his order and his power; accordin g to witnessing and presence. So show etiquette with the Creator and mix with exc ellent associates. He said (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), My Lord ga ve me etiquette and then perfected me in it. Tenth directive Know, what is necessary for you to be occupied with striving internally and the externally. As whoever thinks that he is free from obedience is a bankrupt fool because he has no Lord other than him. He said, Say, if you love Allah then follo w me; Allah will love you. (The Family of Imran 4:31) So these are founding principles that castles are based, unlike any other castle s. Base it upon large rocks; for the heads of the charges; cultivate your fields ; sow seeds of happiness; plant in paradise remembrance; receive gardens of flow ers and rivers; its bedding is red anemones of struggle; its bed gardens of endu ring reality; in hope of reaping the field by scythes of endeavour; intended for the rich giving of a generous giver and Allah (the exalted) purifies and brings them forth. Indulge freely in the manifest and enjoin from what is shameful. He is the Generous, the Munificent and the merciful. Peace upon those who follow guidance. Do not innovate, benefit and be beneficial and join the righteous servants of Allah, their party is successful, blessed an d shown mercy. Allah send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad one of th e lights of gnosis and the secret of knowledge of God; and upon his family, his companions; whoever follows his path and party. All praise is due to Allah who c ompleted the favour of righteous actions and spreads his blessings. Ameen. (O A llah please respond.) Translated from Mujmua Ar-Risail Al-Imam Al-Ghazali. Printed by Maktabah At-Tawf iqqiyyah, Egypt, Cairo.